Getting into Jesus' "Nerves"

    

Third Sunday of Lent

03 March 2024

 

First Reading: Ex 20:1-17

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:22-25

Gospel: Jn 2:13-25

 

Reflection

By: Gharri Tulabut

 

In some of my lectures in management, whenever we talk about cheating in business, I usually vent, rant, or even lament asking the question, “why is it better for others to cheat on a first time customer, than to build the trust of a potential 'suki'?"

Example: cheating with the net weight of a sale of meat products; cheating on expiration dates, ingredients, and many other fake claims about the products they're selling; or just not telling everything a customer must know.

Because I’m sure that when these customers learn that they’ve been cheated on or have been had, they are not going to make a repeat purchase. Just a one time deal.

Today in the Gospel, Jesus was furious of traders in the Temple vicinity, driving them away.

When I was younger, I thought that God just didn’t like turning the house of worship into a market place. Though I still believe that’s true, but listening to homilies and talk about that incident, I’ve learned that there was a deeper root to it. That Jesus was concerned about the corrupt temple officials during that time, rejecting the people’s offerings, and forcing them to buy “unblemished” animals at a higher price. These people cheated upon are usually poor and those who have no voice in society. If you want to get in Jesus “nerves?”, abuse His favorites—the least, the last, and the lost.

Yet another important significance of our Gospel reading is Jesus' declaration of his passion, death, and resurrection which we are commemorating in this Lenten season.

Prayer

Father, make our motives pure that in everything we do, we bring glory to You, Amen.

May Our Talents Glorify God

   

  Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

18 September 2022 

 

First Reading: Am 8:4-7

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8

Second Reading: 1 Tm 2:1-8

Gospel: Lk 16:1-13

 

Reflection

By: Gharri Tulabut

 

It really amazes me how students can come up with different tactics on how to cheat during an examination. In my personal experience with my students, small things such as making noise to signal whether the answer is A, B, C, or D is a common thing.  Some would even make their own alphabet and write kodigos right there on the board before my very eyes. Oh, I can only wonder what other techniques they come up with especially recently that they take quizzes online. Have you seen the movie Bad Genius? Students in that movie are for me the Mafia or drug lords of cheating.

One time, before an exam, I made a speech before my students, “We hate cheaters, don’t we? Cheaters in business. Cheaters in the government. But here you are, helping each other planning a scheme on how to cheat in small things such as these exams. We hate cheaters in relationships, but here you are young boyfriends and girlfriends helping each other cheat in your quizzes.” Then I even made a false claim, ”Well, studies say that cheaters in class becomes cheaters in relationships.” I think I heard someone say “That’s why we don’t believe in studies.” Hahaha.

What really amazes me is the fact that those who cheat, whether in class or in any other aspect of life, can spend so much energy in planning and executing their shrewd deed. Why not use this energy in doing the right things? Like instead on planning where to write the answers inside the classroom or what signals to use for the answers, why not use the energy to study? Instead of planning a scheme on how to cheat in business, why not plan on how to please the customers to have a loyal customer base? Or plan on how to improve the product.

Today in the Gospel, Jesus praised the shrewd steward in the parable. I am sure the steward was not commended for his cheating but rather for his strategic abilities. If only he could use this ability for good. Same is true with us. God has blessed us with wonderful talents. If only we could use these talents and our energy in doing God’s works on earth. God will truly be glorified.

Prayer

We thank you Father for our talents. May we use these talents to do Your works. May these talents bear fruit that will give back the glory to You. Amen.